GAHRYE

Images of Kalle, surrendering her throat, her body writing, her breath tearing from her in desperate pants, flashed in Gahyre's head and his skin came alight.

How would he ever live without her?

Then the door to the bedroom swung open and she was there, her hair wet and straggling around her neck, but her eyes bright and wide, searching for him. He stood as she stepped into the room—ran, really, straight to him, throwing her arms around him.

"I was afraid you'd gone,

" she whispered.

"Never.

"

He took her face in his hands and kissed her with the desperation she deserved.

When they finally pulled away she played her hands over his chest while she spoke.

"I had an idea.

"

"What's that?

She looked up at him through her lashes, then dropped her eyes back to his chest where her fingers followed the lines of his muscles and made him goosebump.

"I was thinking I could ask Grandma if she can fill for me today. As long as she's not rostered on, it would give us another day before I have to go—

"

Hope broke in his chest and he took her mouth.

"Yes,

" he whispered against her lips.

"Do that.

"

But he didn't let her do it. He didn't let her do anything. He was too busy clinging to her, kissing his love and fear and frantic desperation into her, his breath heavy, heart thundering in his ears so loud that when he heard the click of a door, he didn't immediately register it.

It took Kalle pulling back and blinking, apologizing, and for the sweet voice behind him to reassure her, for Gahrye to wake up and realize Elia had walked in and caught them kissing.

And she was staring at them with tears in her eyes.

*****

ELIA

She'd known it would be awkward—especially for Kalle—if she'd had to tell them she'd had to listen to them last night. Gahrye would hate it if he knew she'd cried for hours because listening to his love and desire reminded her so much of Reth. And now she was the one who would sit on the sideline, yearning, but with no one to hold while her best friend found his happiness.

And she wanted that for him. She wanted it for him so badly. But… but she hurt for herself, and for Reth. And she'd been fighting her beast all night, too and… it was all just too much. The idea of enduring an awkward conversation that might make one or both of them pull away… she couldn't do it.

So she'd been a creepy stalker and waited for them to be out there together and hoped she could, just as she had, interrupt them so they all got to discover this together.

What she hadn't anticipated was the bullet to her heart when she saw Gahrye holding her, his fingers clawed into her hair, and at her back. Just the way Reth had held her so many times.

And just as distracted, apparently.

It had been Kalle who pulled away first. When Gahrye turned, his eyes were wide and frightened and his face lined with lack of sleep.

"Oh! Elia! Sorry!

" Kalle said, her cheeks turning red.

Elia shook her head.

"I'm sorry to interrupt,

" she said, and forced herself to smile. Then she inhaled.

"Congratulations, you two. I didn't know… I… you should have told me Gahrye!

"

He didn't let go of Kalle, but he stared at her, pleading in his eyes.

"I didn't want to worry you,

" he said.

"I'm not going to break my vow. I will get you home safely, no matter what.

"

Elia blinked, then forced herself to flap a hand, dismissing it as nothing.

"Don't even worry about it. When Reth wins the war he'll come for me himself. You probably won't even need to leave—or maybe Kalle can come with us if she wants to? Reth would never separate True Mates. That's… that's so special you two. I really am happy for you.

"

She wanted to hug Gahrye. She wanted to celebrate with him, but it hit her then what it meant that she was female and he was male.

It hit her that this would put distance between them. That she was no longer the most important person in his life.

She tried really hard not to hurt for that. Not to envy it.

She tried really hard to look normal when everything about her felt different—first because of the changes within her, then because of this. Because this, whether she wanted it to or not, would rightly—necessarily—isolate her further from the one man who connected her to her home.

She wanted to weep. And she wanted to punch herself for being so selfish. Gahrye had wanted this for so long. And judging by the expression on Kalle's face, she was as completely surrendered to the bond as he was.

This was a wonderful and beautiful thing.

"Welcome to the family, Kalle,

" she said, smiling genuinely.

"It's a little crazy here, but the hearts are good.

"

"Um, thank you!

" Kalle said looking up at Gahrye, gauging him for his comfort with the idea of what Elia was communicating, and Elia loved her for that.

"You got the second best one,

" Elia said with a wink.

Gahrye frowned for a moment, then his face broke into a smile.

"Thank you,

" he said gently.

She nodded.

"Well, I don't' know about you two, but I'm starving. I'm going to head down for breakfast. You guys do your thing and… you can join me downstairs when you're ready, Gahrye. Kalle, you're welcome to join us for… everything today,

" Elia chuckled, but her smile fell off quickly.

"Thank you, but I have to work today. I'll be around again late this afternoon though, when my shift is done.

"

Gahrye snapped his head around to look at her, and she made a face at him. Clearly they were discussing something, and she'd interrupted.

"Well, whatever. Anytime you're around, please don't hesitate. You're Gahrye's mate. You're one of us now. Please be here as much and for as long as you both want.

"

Gahrye gave her a grateful look, then she waved.

"I'll see you both later,

" and she walked for the door, and out into the hall to go downstairs alone.

Which wasn't the end of the world. It wasn't like she didn't have breakfast alone sometimes at home, she reminded herself.

But as she trotted down the stairs and the door to the suite closed, echoing in the hall, and her heightened hearing caught the giggle of Kalle as Gahrye… did whatever he was doing to try to convince her to stay, Elia had to swallow hard, more than once.

Everything was so different. At least this was a good thing that was new.

But it just reminded her of what she'd lost.